The streak is gone, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are in a position they haven’t been in since 2019 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. No one couldv’e predicted the Lightning would be down 2-0 against the Rangers. It’s looking like nine days off after eliminating the Florida Panthers wasn’t a good thing.
The Tampa Bay Lightning don’t seem to have an answer for Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers. After dropping a 6-2 loss to the Rangers in game one and then 3-2 in the streak snapping game two, what do the Bolts have to do to get to Shesterkin and the Rangers? Maybe play a little less defense and a lot more offense… Not saying stop doing what brought you to this point, but something has to change.
Cooper…. is NOT happy
Never seen this before: Jon Cooper cut short Nick Paul’s first intermission interview with @TVASports and told him to get into the dressing room. pic.twitter.com/BeWFdNvu7V
— HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) June 4, 2022
Cooper can be briefly heard telling Nick Paul to get into the locker room following the first period in New York for game two. The Lightning bench boss has never hid his firey nature, you see it every game on the bench, but this is the first time the Lightning have been in this siuation in three years. He knows his team is better than this and maybe “ripping them a new one” is what they need. Because i’m sure he wasn’t telling Paul to get into the locker room for cake and ice cream.
First scoreless period of the series
With the first twenty minutes down, it was Tampa outshooting the Rangers 15-12 it wasn’t until 7:37 of the second period when Mika Zibanejad put the Rangers ahead 1-0 on the power play following a Riley Nash interference penalty. Just over two minutes later back on the power play following a Corey Perry penalty for slashing, the Ranger put their lead further ahead with a goal by Chris Kreider. Just over a minute later while on a power play of their own, the Bolts would finally get on the board courtesy of Nikita Kucherov. That was Kucherov’s 50th playoff goal, and Victor Hedman’s 100th playoff point.
8️⃣6️⃣ one timer! 💥 🥅 pic.twitter.com/oj08cUV8RH
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) June 5, 2022
Oh Captain My Captain
It didn’t take long for the Lightning captain to tie the game in the third period, one minute twenty two seconds to be exact. Following an insane pass in the Rangers zone by Corey Perry, Stamkos burried a wobbley puck past Shesterkin for a 2-2 tie game.
POWER PLAY GOAL!
Tie game in the 3rd ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/M6Zu9H5gOJ
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) June 5, 2022
With 41.6 seconds to go in the third, Ondrej Palat puts the Lightning up 3-2 in game three.
THE GAME WINNING GOAL! pic.twitter.com/gpGdE2xiGl
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) June 5, 2022
Palat will give the Lightning some new blood, and allow them to continue onwith a chance to tie the series on Tuesday.
Three Stars of the Game
3rd Star – Steven Stamkos
2nd Star – Nikita Kucherov
1st Star – Ondrej Palat
Up next
The Lightning and Rangers will meet for game four on Tueaday at Amalie Arena at 8pm.
